Lab Operations Lead — Bioengineering & Synthetic Biology

Princeton University; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute at Princeton University is seeking a highly motivated Lab Manager for the Avalos Laboratory at the rank of Associate Professional Specialist. The role focuses on leading day-to-day lab operations, safety, purchasing, and mentoring a diverse team of researchers.

Responsibilities include coordinating onboarding, maintaining inventories and documentation, and supporting research in synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and related biotech areas at

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, or related discipline.
• Experience in an academic, industrial, or government research laboratory.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership, initiative, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience with molecular biology, microbial engineering, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, protein engineering, or related laboratory techniques is highly desirable.
• Experience with laboratory automation, liquid handling robotics, biofoundry technologies, or laboratory information management systems (LIMS) is a plus.
• Experience with scientific writing, grant preparation, website management, or laboratory outreach is a plus.
• Enthusiasm for mentoring young scientists and fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating research environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operation of a dynamic and collaborative research laboratory.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and efficient laboratory environment, including oversight of laboratory safety, compliance, and standard operating procedures.
• Manage purchasing, inventories, equipment maintenance, vendor relationships, and laboratory budgets.
• Coordinate onboarding and training of new laboratory members in laboratory practices, equipment, and safety.
• Maintain strain, plasmid, reagent, and sample inventories, as well as laboratory databases and documentation.
• Coordinate the maintenance and scheduling of shared laboratory instrumentation.
• Organize laboratory meetings, seminars, and visits by collaborators.
• Assist with laboratory communications, and maintenance of the laboratory website.
• Participate in research projects involving microbial bioengineering and/or protein engineering.
• Mentoring of junior researchers.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Communication

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Safety compliance

Budget management

Onboarding

Documentation

Education

PhD required

Tools

LIMS

Lab automation

Liquid handling robotics

Biofoundry tech

Job description

The Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute at Princeton University is seeking a highly motivated Lab Manager for the Avalos Laboratory at the rank of Associate Professional Specialist. The role focuses on leading day-to-day lab operations, safety, purchasing, and mentoring a diverse team of researchers.

Responsibilities include coordinating onboarding, maintaining inventories and documentation, and supporting research in synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and related biotech areas at